Best countries to go in November

November in the Northern Hemisphere tends to be a grey, drizzly and unappealing month, when the thoughts of many will naturally turn to fleeing abroad. And why shouldn’t they when – as our guide to the best places for a November holiday travel guide explains – there’s an enormous variety of adventures available.

You can strap on your boots for a pilgrimage walk in Japan, go on a long-distance trek in the sun-splashed Canary Islands, or traverse the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. You can swim with orcas, photograph orangutans in Malaysian Borneo, and volunteer with monkeys in South Africa. We say activate, don’t hibernate, in November. Read our guide to find out more about the best places to go on holiday in November.

While in some countries November is a time to think about hibernating, in others it’s a great month to lace up your boots and head into the great outdoors. Trek legendary pilgrimage routes in Japan such as the Nakasendo Trail or the Kumano Kodo with the autumnal foliage as your backdrop. You can also roam Morocco’s Atlas Mountains with a guide and a mule by your side, or enjoy a relaxed walk to the Machu Picchu citadel on Peru’s iconic Inca Trail – November is just on the cusp of the wet season.

November is low season in Malaysian Borneo, the rainforests by now starting to see a lot of, er, rain. But the orangutans are still there, and the vital sanctuaries that protect them and other wildlife still need volunteers in November. Scuba diving in the Galapagos Islands is especially good in November. Plankton-rich waters attract a variety of marine life and young sea lions are delightfully playful. Self drive holidays in Namibia let you plot your own itinerary: November is a good month for whale watching off the coast and marks the end of peak season in Namibia’s superb game reserves. For an up-close look at one of nature’s great predators, November is the best time to admire orcas in Norway.